REPATRIATION DOCUMENTS
Repatriation Documents for Funeral Homes and Families
When someone who has died in Massachusetts is going home to rest in another country, the consulate needs a set of documents that are notarized, apostilled or legalized, and often translated, before the remains or ashes can travel. We prepare that paperwork quickly and carefully, so funeral directors and families can focus on everything else.
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FOR FUNERAL DIRECTORS
Handled with care
Every document the consulate asks for.
- Death certificate apostille
- Funeral director affidavits
- Embassy legalization
- Translations arranged
How repatriation documents work
Documents we prepare
- Certified death certificates, apostilled or legalized
- Funeral director affidavits and statements, notarized at the funeral home and apostilled
- Physician or health department letters stating there was no contagious disease, apostilled
- Embalming and cremation certificates, notarized when required, then apostilled
- Family letters authorizing the funeral home, notarized when the consulate asks
- Certified translations into the destination country’s language
- Death certificates from other states, apostilled by the issuing state
Example: what the Italian Consulate in Boston asks for
| Document | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Certified full copy of the death certificate, with cause of death | Apostille, plus an Italian translation that is also apostilled |
| Funeral director’s affidavit, on the consulate’s form | Notarized and apostilled |
| Funeral director’s statement requesting repatriation | Signature notarized |
| Department of Health certificate (no infectious disease in the area of death) | Apostille; for remains, not for ashes |
| Certificate of cremation (for ashes) | Apostille, plus an Italian translation that is also apostilled |
| Family letter, registration form, identity documents and information sheet | Prepared by the family and funeral home |
Summarized from the Consulate General of Italy in Boston, November 2026. Every country and consulate sets its own list, and lists change, so always confirm with the consulate handling the file.
How we handle it
- 1
Send us the consulate’s list
Share the destination country, the consulate’s instructions and the documents you already have. We confirm what each one needs.
- 2
Notarization at the funeral home
We come to the funeral home to notarize the director’s affidavit and any other statements, at a time that suits you.
- 3
Apostille or legalization
We take the documents to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, or start authentication and embassy legalization for non-Hague countries, and prioritize repatriation files.
- 4
Translation and return
We arrange certified translations when required and return the completed set to the funeral home, ready for the consulate.
Preparing a repatriation file?
Send us the consulate’s list, and we will take care of the documents.
For funeral directors
One contact for every document
Death certificates, affidavits, health letters and translations, all handled together so nothing is missed.
We come to you
Notarization at the funeral home, by appointment, including evenings and weekends when timing is urgent.
Any destination
Hague countries by apostille; other countries by authentication and embassy legalization.
Any state
If the death certificate was issued in another state, we coordinate that state’s apostille.
Common mistakes we help you avoid
- A short-form death certificate. Many consulates want the full certified copy showing the cause of death.
- Too few certified copies. Some consulates keep the originals, so order extras.
- Unnotarized letters. A letter from a funeral home, crematory or physician usually needs to be notarized before it can be apostilled.
- Translations without an apostille. Some consulates, including Italy’s, require the translation to be apostilled as well.
Frequently asked questions
Which documents usually need an apostille for repatriation?
Most often the certified death certificate, the funeral director’s notarized affidavit or statement and, for some countries, a health or physician’s letter and the cremation certificate. Each consulate publishes its own list, and we work from it.
Can a funeral director’s affidavit be apostilled?
Yes. The funeral director signs it before a notary, and the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth then apostilles the notarization. We can come to the funeral home for the signing.
Which death certificate copy is needed?
Usually a certified long-form copy that shows the cause of death, issued by the city or town clerk or the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. Some consulates keep the copies they receive, so order several.
What about countries outside the Hague Convention?
Documents for those countries need authentication and embassy or consular legalization instead of an apostille. We handle the full process and confirm the steps for the destination country.
Do the documents need to be translated?
Often, yes. The Italian Consulate in Boston, for example, asks for an Italian translation of the death certificate that is also apostilled. We arrange certified translations and confirm the consulate’s rules.
How quickly can you turn the documents around?
We know families are waiting. A Massachusetts apostille usually takes one to two business days once the documents are ready, and we prioritize repatriation files. Embassy legalization takes longer and varies by country.
Do you arrange the transport or the burial permit?
No. The funeral home handles the burial-transit permit, the airline and the receiving funeral home abroad. We take care of the documents that must be notarized, apostilled, legalized or translated.
Preparing a repatriation file?
Send us the consulate’s list, and we will confirm every document before we begin.